Opening mechanism for box-couches.



No 642,967. Patented Feb. 6, I900. W. S. DUVALL.

OPENING MECHANISM FOR BOX COUCHES.

(Application filed Sept. 21, 1898.)

(No Model.)

TH: Mamas PEYERS co, PHOYO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON, I: c

' NI'IED STATES.

VILLIAM S. DUVALL, OF W'ASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE SENG COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

OPENING MECHANISM FOR BOX-COUCHES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 642,967, dated February 6, 1900. I Application filed September 21, 1898. Serial No. 691,527. (No model.)

tion, such as will enable others skilled in the' art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to opening mechanisms for box-couches and similar articlessuch as, for instance, trunks. A well-known objection to these very useful articles of furniture is that as usually constructed, with hinges, the same soon become impaired by reason of the hinges becoming pulled from their fastenin gs. Especially is this true where the well-known spring-openers are employed, which is almost universally the case, in order to overcome the weight of thelid. Again, the prying action of the rear upper corner of the lid against an adjacent wall when in the act of raising the lid tends to loosen the hinges, so that it is usual for persons when about to open the couch to precede this operation by withdrawing the couch from its close relation to a wall.

To obviate the use of hinges by reason of their cost and the objections stated, various devices of but indifferent practicability have been devisedimpracticable by reason of their complexity and cost, as well as imperfect operation.

The objects, therefore, of my invention are, first, to produce an opening mechanism that is of extremely simple construction and minimum cost; second, one that will obviate the use of hinges and will cause the lid to assume substantially a vertical position without undue pressure against an adjacent wall, and, third, one which may be applied to any of the couches of this class or box style now in use.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse sectional View of a box-couch, the same having a form of opening mechanism embodying my invention, the lid of the couch being shown as raised to its open position. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing another form of mechanism for accomplishing the same purpose, the lid in this instance being illustrated by full lines as but partly raised and by dotted lines as closed. Fig. 3 illustrates another form.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 and 2 designate, respectively, the lower receptacle portion and the upper portion or lid of an ordinary box-couch, with the exception that no connecting-hinges are employed. The lower rear edge of the lid 2near its ends has let therein and pivoted, as at 3, the upper ends of a pair of lifting-levers 4, the lower ends of which are pivoted, asat 5, to the end walls of the lower receptacle portion 1 of the couch, the back walls of the latter being recessed, as at 3, for the purpose of receiving the rear edge of the said lifting-levers when they recline, (as indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 2,) as when the lid is closed. Another means may be employed for securing the leverst in position on the lid; but I have found that the way illustrated is simple and cheap and results in bringing the lid to an exact vertical position.

At points in advance of the lifting-levers 4 and near the upper edges of the end walls of the receptacle portionI pivot, intermediate their ends on bearing-bolts 7, a pair of rigid raising-levers 6, the same being somewhat 8 5 longer than the lifting-levers 4 and at their upper ends in this instance pivoted to pairs of cars or lugs 9, which project from the under side near the ends of the lid 2 by a pair of bearing-bolts 8. The actions of these two levers will be apparent in that the front or raising levers being longer than the rear or lifting levers they at theirouter ends will move in arcs of greater and lesser circles, so that the front or raising levers 6 will elevate and lower the front of the lid, while the short lifting-levers 4: will turn the rear end thereof. Thus the raising and closing of the lid are accomplished within a space practically inclosed by two vertical imaginary lines coin I00 ciding with the back and front walls of the couch. These two rigid levers 4 and 6 may be arranged in numerous ways, and, as shown 7 in Fig. 3, the position of the lever 6 shown in Fig. 1 may be reversed-that is, the said levers 6 may be extended at their upper ends above their points of pivot with the lid, openings being cut in the lid for the purpose instead of extending the levers below the pivots 7, as in Figs. 1 and 2; but in any one of the three instances shown the operation is precisely the same.

The extended ends of the raising-levers 6 may have eyes or hooks 10, and the rear lifting-levers 4t may have one or a plurality of holes 11, or a hook 13 may be located at the lower rear corner of the lid in lieu of the latter. Between these points, however, a pair of coiled springs 12 are located and connected under tension. In the construction shown in Fig. 3, which is a reversal of that shown in Fig. 1, the springs 12 are connected to either the front or rear portions of the lid-frame in accordance with the direction given the raising-levers 6. This latter construction, while it tends to hide the springs from view, is objectionable in that it locates the spring power in the most unstable part of the couch-to wit, the lid-and, furthermore, necessitates tearing the couch-lid open for purposes of repair, and, finally, is expensive as compared with the other two forms.

In any one of the three forms the springs are under their greatest tension when the lid is closed; but inasmuch as they lie substantially parallel with the levers 6 their contractive force cannot act upon said levers until the lid is partially raised at its front end. After this initial or partial raising of the lid the springs act, such action being increased the nearer the levers 6 approach the vertical. Such action on the part of the raising-levers causes the rear or lifting lovers to vibrate, thus swinging the rear end of the lid forward and giving it a partial turn, so that at the end of the operation the lid is vertical and its back wall rests upon the upper edges of the end walls of the receptacle portion, giving free access to the couch.

What I claim is- 1. The combination with a receptacle and a lid, of lifting-levers fulcrumed in the receptacle near its rear end and pivoted at their upper ends to the rear edge of the lid back of their fulcrum-points in the receptacle, rigid raising-levers fulcrumed in the receptacle and pivoted to the lid in advance of the lifting-levers, and springs for raising and for actuating said levers and normally occupying a partially-inactive position with relation to the same when the lid is closed and adapted to increase their tension on said levers after a partial raising of the lid.

2. In a box-couch, the combination with a receptacle and a lid, of means for moving the rear end of the lid forward and upward on the are of a circle and so as to cause the said rear end to clear the upper edge of the receptacle during said movement, a pair of rigid raising-levers pivotally connected to the lid and receptacle and adapted to raise the front of said lid, and a pair of springs connected and adapted to actuate said raising-levers, said springs occupying a partially-inactive position with relation to said levers when the lid is closed and adapted to increase their tension on said levers subsequent to a partial raising of the lid.

3. The combination with a receptacle and independent lid for the same, of a pair of rear lifting-levers fulcrumed in the receptacle near its rear wall and pivotally connected at their upper ends to the rear portion of the lid, a

'pair of raising-levers pivotally connected to the lid and receptacle in advance of the lifting-levers and extended beyond one of their said pivotal points, and coiled springs for acting on said extended ends for the purpose of vibrating the levers, said coiled springs being arranged in substantially inactive posi tions with relation to said levers when the said lid is closed and so as to aid in vibrating the levers when said lid has been partially raised.

4:. The combination with a receptacle and a lid for the same, of a pair of lifting-levers fulcrumed in the receptacle and in rear thereof pivoted to the lid near its rear wall, a pair of raising-levers longer than the lifting-levers pivotally connected to the lid and receptacle in advance of the lifting-levers and having their ends extended beyond their pivot-points -in the said lid, and coiled springs connected to said extended ends of the raising-levers within the lid and connected to a point within the latter, said springs being arranged relative to the lifting-levers so that they are substantially inactive when the lid is closed and are capable of aiding in the vibration of said raisin g-levers after a partial raising of the lid. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM S. DUVALL. Witnesses:

J. ALBERT DUVALL, W. CLARENCE DUVALL. 

